Scott Autrey

Scott Autrey
BornScott Brian Autrey
(1953-07-09) 9 July 1953 (age 71)
Maywood, California, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Career history
1973-1979Exeter Falcons
1980Swindon Robins
1981-1982Poole Pirates
Individual honours
1978Daily Mirror Golden Hammer
1978, 1979, 1980Strongbow Golden Gauntlets
1978, 1979Daily Express Spring Classic
1979Daily Mirror/Berger Grand Prix
1980Midland Riders Champion
Team honours
1974British League Winner
1978Spring Gold Cup Winner
1982World Team Cup winner

Scott Brian Autrey (born July 9, 1953)[1] is an American former professional motorcycle speedway rider. In 1976, he became the first American rider to reach a speedway world final since Ernie Roccio in 1951.[2] He earned 22 caps for the United States national speedway team.[3]

Motorcycle racing career

Born in Maywood, California, Autrey began his motorcycle racing career in 1964 by competing in flat track racing at Perris Auto Speedway.[4] In 1968, he had a major off-road racing victory when he won the 100cc class in the Rosarita Grand Prix in Mexico. He also competed in road racing, placing second in the novice road race class held before the 1971 Daytona 200.[5]

In 1972, Autrey finished second in the United States Speedway National Championship.[2] After witnessing the 1972 Individual Speedway World Championship in Wembley Stadium, he made the decision to concentrate fully on speedway racing.[2] In 1973, Autrey was recommended by Ivan Mauger to join the Exeter Falcons in England,[6] where he stayed for seven years.

In 1980 he joined Swindon Robins,[7] before moving on to Poole Pirates from 1981 to 1982.[2][8][9]

He finished 3rd in the 1978 World Speedway Championship at Wembley and won the World Team Cup with the USA in 1982.[10] He retired from the sport at the end of 1982 at a relatively young age.

Automobile racing career

After his two-wheeled racing career ended, he became a NASCAR driver who made one Nextel Cup start. He competed in the Winston West Series full-time. That Cup race came in 1985, when Autrey started 29th in the forty-one car field, where he dropped out late with transmission issues. He finished 34th as a result.

World Final appearances

Individual World Championship

World Team Cup

World Longtrack Final

References

  1. ^ Oakes, Peter; Mauger, Ivan OBE, MBE (1976). Who's Who of World Speedway. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. ISBN 0-904584-04-6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ a b c d Edwards, Andrew (1977). Autrey Reached For The Stars. Retrieved 9 April 2019. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  3. ^ "Ultimate rider index, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  4. ^ "Trailblazers Hall Of Famer 2018: Scott Autrey". motorcycle.com. 3 May 2018. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  5. ^ Kocks, Rick (1971). The 1971 Daytona Classic. Retrieved 9 April 2019. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  6. ^ "Mighty Belle Vue still hold the aces". Leicester Daily Mercury. 6 March 1973. Retrieved 1 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. ^ "Gramstad sold to Leicester". Western Daily Press. 21 February 1980. Retrieved 26 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. ^ Lethbridge, Tony (January 2004). Speedway in the South West. NPI Media Group. ISBN 0-7524-2915-9.
  9. ^ Beasley, J. (2003) Poole Pirates Speedway, Paleface Publications. ISBN 0-9539608-9-7
  10. ^ Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2402-5